Liquid treating apparatus



May 9, 1967 H. P. FRY, JR

` LIQUxD TREATING APPARATUS Filed April 7, 1965 il .14.5% l lill United States Patent 3,318,121 LIQUID 'I'REATING APPARATUS Horace P. Fry, Jr., West Chester, Pa., assignor to FMC Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 446,182 8 Claims. (Cl. 655-189) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A liquid treating apparatus in which a series of annular packages of yarn are packed snugly together in end-toend relationship within an enclosure and about a liquid distributor. The enclosure is generally horizontal and has a liquid discharge opening along its top surface so that liquid delivered by the distributor is caused to flow generally radially through the yarn packages and then upwardly over and through the packages before being discharged through the enclosure slot.

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in treating yarn or tilamentary material in the form of a wound package with liquid such as washing, bleaching, desulfuring, dyeing and the like.

Liquid treating of wound packages of iilamentary materials, such as annular packages or cakes of rayon, is most generally effected by subjecting the packages to drips or showers of liquid supplied into the center of such packages. Applying liquid from within the annular packages provides for more uniform treatment and is most easily achieved by Stringing a series of such annular packages onto a horizontally disposed perforated rod and then subjecting the packages to liquid discharged through the rod perforations. j

Generally, the packages are held against movement along the rod by a pair of anges which also serve to close off the ends of the outermost packages. While such anges prevent the treating liquid from flowing out of the ends of the series of packages, and thus permit the use of somewhat higher liquid pressures, it has been found that with relatively porous packages the treating liquid flows out through the bottom thereof so that uniform treatment of the entire package is generally not possible. More import-ant, under liquid pressure which provides for satisfactory treatment the treating liquid often causes a package to bulge to such :an extent that it ruptures, i.e. blows out. These blowouts of the yarn packages of course damage the wound yarn and provide paths of low resistance through which any subsequently applied treating liquid may rapidly escape. Here again the end result is non-uniform treatment of the yarn packages. Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a generally new and more satisfactory liquid treating apparatus.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved apparatus for rapidly and uniformly treating wound packages of iilamentary material-s with liquids.

Still another object is the provision of an improved liquid treating apparatus for use with wound packages of iilamentary material in which iblowouts of packages during treatment is avoided or greatly minimized.

A further object is an apparatus for liquid treating of annular yarn packages which is simple in construction and use, economical in operation, and provides satisfactory results regardless of the porosity of the packages which are being treated.

Still further objects will appear from the following description.

3,3l8,l2l Patented May 9, 1967 ice These objects are accomplished by an apparatus which includes a tubular enclosure for snugly containing at least one and preferably a plurality of annular wound packages of lamentary material or yarn, and a liquid distributor which is disposed longitudinally of the enclosure and substantially centrally of the contained packages. The enclosure is closed at its ends and is supported with its longitudinal axis at an angle to a vertical plane, and preferably in an approximately horizontal position.`

The distributor is provided with orifices along its bottom through which a treating liquid is discharged downwardly and radially into the packages. Such liquid flows circumferentially about the package and is discharged from the enclosure through an opening, and preferably a continuous slot, which extends along the top thereof. Spacers having serrated or grooved surfaces are positioned within the enclosure along one or both sides of the discharge 1opening to facilitate the flow of liquid into such opening notwithstanding the swelling or expansion which the packages may undergo during the liquid treatment.

The bottom of the enclosure is also provided with a discharge opening, again preferably in the form of an elongated slot. A trough collects the liquid passing through this opening and is connected to a drainage means for removing liquid from the trough and enclosure at the completion of the liquid treatment. For the sake of simplicity and ease of operation, the drainage means is preferably a standpipe which is swivelled for movement to and from vertical positions.

The invention is hereafter described as employed in the liquid treatment of regenerated cellulose filamentary materials or yarns in the form of centrifugally wound packages or cakes. It is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to the liquid treatment of yarn packages generally, regardless of the kind or type of yarn, or the method of preparing or winding the same or the porosity of the packages. Similarly, while reference has and will hereafter be made to a single enclosure in which annular packages of iilamentary materials are treated, in actual use a plurality of such enclosures would normally be mounted on a carriage or other means which could be moved from one liquid treating stage to another. These enclosures, however, would be similar in construction and use so that a description of only one is believed necessary.

In the drawing,

FIGURE 1 is .a side view of the liquid treating apparatus of the present invention, with a portion thereof being broken away to show details of the interior thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken generally along the line II-II of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a View similar to FIGURE 2 in which a portion tof the apparatus is illustrated on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken generally along the line IV---IV of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a side View, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of a liquid distributor employed in the apparatus of FIGURES 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 11 designates generally an enclosure of the liquid treating apparatus of the present invention. This enclosure includes a tubular body 13 and end members 1S and 17, the latter of which is in the form of a removable cover which projects into the body 13 and is held in position by suitable latches 19. The enclosure 11 is supported from a carriage or other structure 21 by a tubular arm 23, with its longitudinal axis extending at an angle to a vertical plane and preferably in a generally horizontal direction.

A liquid distributor 25 is disposed longitudinally of the enclosure 11 and extends through the arm 23 where it is connected to a suitable source of treating liquid, not shown. The distributor may be of any desired construction but is preferably of the type disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 446,175, filed Apr. 7, 1965, and entitled Fluid Distributor. Such distributor, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 5, includes an elongated delivery tube 27 which is slotted longitudinally at 29, an elongated rod 31 positioned within the tube slot 29 and having a helical groove 33 formed along its outer surface, and cross-pieces 35 for snugly holding the rod 31 in fixed position. At one end the tube 27 is closed by a plug 37 through which the rod 31 projects, while at its opposite end the tube is provided with a bayonet slot 39 for attaching the same to a liquid supply source.

Discharge orifices 41 are formed along the length of the distributor 25 at those locations at which the helical groove 33 opens into the delivery tube slot 29. More specifically, at each location at which the helical groove 33 spans the delivery tube slot 29 a pair of fiuid discharge orifices 41 are provided. Orifices 41 of each of such pairs of orifices are disposed in opposed relationship so that the streams of liquid discharged therefrom impinge against each other and are thereby dispersed. In this condition, the treating liquid is highly effective in rapidly, yet gently treating the somewhat fragile filamentary material of the freshly spun cakes which are indicated at 43.

The liquid discharged from the distributor 25 flows radially of the cakes 43 and then circumferentially toward and into slots 45 and 47 which extend longitudinally along the bottom and top respectively of the tubular body 13. Preferably, these slots 45 and 47 each terminate short of the ends of the body 13 and may be reinforced against spreading by a series of longitudinally spaced straps 49. The slot 45 opens into a trough S1 which includes a drain 53 to which a standpipe 55 is swivelled for reasons as more fully described hereafter.

Secured to the inside surface of the body 13, along opposite sides of slot 47, are spacers 57 having serrations 59 along their exposed surfaces. These surface serrations 59 may take on any desired form and as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 are preferably a series of fine grooves which extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the slot 47.

In use, cakes43 of rayon which are to be liquid treated are inserted into the tubular body 13 after which the cover 17 is positioned and locked in place by the latches 19. While the porosity of the cakes 43 is not critical, the cakes which are to be treated at the same time are of substantially the same porosity to insure uniform treatment. Preferably, spacers 61 are employed when needed to insure that the cakes 43 are pressed snugly against each other so as to prevent any undesired escape of liquid from between the packages. A treating liquid is then delivered into the distributor 25 and is dispersed as it issues from the opposing pairs of orifices 41. This liquid `flows radially through the packages 43 and then circumferentially toward the slots 45 and 47. With the standpipe 55 in a vertical position as shown in FIGURE 1, the liquid will first collect within the trough 51 until the standpipe 55 is filled to about the height of the body 13. From then on, the liquid Will flow toward the tube slot 47 from which it will spill over the outside of the enclosure.

Of particular importance is that while the cakes 43 swell or otherwise expand during the liquid treatment and would normally close off the slot 47, the serrations 59 along the exposed surface of the spacers 57 permit the spent treating liquid to flow continuously into the slot 47 and be discharged therefrom. Once the liquid treatment is completed the standpipe 55 is pivoted at least through an arc of 90 to drain the liquid which is contained therein and in the trough 51. In this lowermost position of the standpipe 55 liquid is free to drain from the cakes 43 under the force of gravity.

One particular advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that the treating liquid is caused to flow radially through annular wound packages and then circumferentially about the outer surfaces thereof, and in so doing, provides for uniform and rapid treatment of all portions of the packages. Moreover, in view of the path of ow of the treating liquid, the desired results which are achieved with the apparatus of the present invention do not depend upon the porosity of the particular Wound packages which are being treated.

As described in detail in my above noted copending application, the distributor 25 which is employed in the apparatus of the present invention, is designed for uninterrupted use. Thus, in the event that one or more of the discharge orifices 41 becomes plugged or clogged during an actual treating stage, the operator needs only to grip the end 63 thereof which projects through the plug 37 and rotate the same through a small arc. This manipulation presents new portions of the helical groove 33 to the distributor tube slot 29 and can be effected rapidly and without dismantling of the distributor.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. Apparatus for liquid treating annular yarn packages including a tubular enclosure for containing at least one annular yarn package, walls at the ends of said enclosure, a distributor extending longitudinally of said enclosure for discharging liquid into the central portions of yarn packages which are contained within said enclosure, means for supporting said enclosure with its longitudinal axis at an angle to a vertical plane, and an opening formed along the top of said enclosure forV permitting liquid to drain therefrom.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said opening is a slot extending longitudinally of the enclosure and further including a spacer positioned within the enclosure along at least one side of said slot, said spacer having grooves formed on its exposed surface to facilitate liquid drainage `from the enclosure notwithstanding expansion of the liquid treated yarn packages. Y

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including an opening in the bottom of said enclosure, a trough for collecting the liquid passing through said bottom opening, and drainage means for removing liquid from said trough and from within said enclosure.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said drainage means includes a standpipe which is swivelled for movement to permit drainage of liquid from said trough.

5. Apparatus for liquid treating annular yarn packages including a tubular enclosure for containing annular yarn packages, walls at the ends of said enclosure, means f-or supporting said enclosure with its `axis at an angle to a vertical plane, a Iliquid distributor disposed longitudinally of said enclosure and adapted to extend substantially centrally of yarn packages contained within said enclosure, discharge means formed along the bottom of said distributor for directing liquid downwardly against the yarn package, a slot formed along the top of said enclosure for draining liquid therefrom, and a spacer having a serrated exposed surface positioned within the enclosure along at least one side of said slot.

6. Apparatus as dened in claim 5 wherein a spacer is positioned along opposite sides of said slot and wherein the serrations therein extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said slot.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further including an opening formed .along the bottom of said enclosure, a trough for collecting the -liquid discharged through said opening and drainage means for removing liquid from said trough and enclosure at the completion of the liquid treatment.

8. Apparatus for liquid treating annular yarn packages including a tubular enclosure for containing annular yarn packages, Walls at the ends of said enclosure, means for supporting said enclosure in an approximately horizontal position, a liquid distributor disposed longitudinally of said enclosure and adapted to extend substantially centrally of the yarn packages which are contained within said enclosure, discharge means formed along the bottom of said distributor for directing liquid downwardly against the yarn packages, a slot formed along the top of said enclosure for draining liquid therefrom, spacers located within the enclosure and along the opposite sides of said slot, said spacers having serrations extending at an angle to their longitudinal axes, an open ing formed along the bottom of said enclosure, a trough 10 for collecting liquid discharged through said opening, a

' standpipe connected to said trough, and means for pivoting said standpipe between generally vertical and horizontal positions.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR LIQUID TREATING ANNULAR YARN PACKAGES INCLUDING A TUBULAR ENCLOSURE FOR CONTAINING AT LEAST ONE ANNULAR YARN PACKAGE, WALLS AT THE ENDS OF SAID ENCLOSURE, A DISTRIBUTOR EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID ENCLOSURE FOR DISCHARGING LIQUID INTO THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF YARN PACKAGES WHICH ARE CONTAINED WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID ENCLOSURE WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS AT AN ANGLE TO A VERTICAL PLANE, AND AN OPENING FORMED ALONG THE TOP OF SAID ENCLOSURE FOR PERMITTING LIQUID TO DRAIN THEREFROM. 